I Will End My 10-Year Unrequited Love - Chapter 30

Cyrone followed behind his mother as she walked through the garden. It was the rose garden she cherished most in the palace. Empress Loran, wearing her crown and a golden-threaded dress, always walked just ahead of Cyrone.

The small figure hurriedly followed behind. Just as Cyrone reached her side and stretched out his arm to grasp Loran’s hand—

“Well, who do we have here? Is this not the Empress?”

A familiar voice came from behind a tree much taller than Cyrone. Instinctively, Cyrone anxiously glanced at Loran.

“Long time no see, Duke.”

As expected, Loran’s face turned pale, and she clenched her trembling fingers tightly.

“Mo….ther.”

Cyrone was about to call her name, but someone pushed him into the narrow forest path. The small figure was almost crushed behind the tree. Cyrone hunched his shoulders and shot a sharp glare at the intruder.

“It’s Baiana, Your Highness.”

It was Lady Baiana, Empress Loran’s attendant. Hiding Cyrone behind the tree, Baiana put a finger to her lips, signaling to stay silent and avoid making a sound.

“Duke Reiffers?”

Cyrone quietly asked back, as if accustomed to this situation. Baiana nodded. Whenever Loran met someone from the Reiffers family, she habitually hid Cyrone behind her.

“Why do I have to hide like this every time we meet that man?”

Cyrone muttered in confusion. Baiana lowered herself and gently stroked Cyrone’s small hand.

“It’s because she wishes to keep the Prince unharmed.”

Though Cyrone couldn’t understand, he dared not ask further. Glancing toward Loran, Baiana spoke in a gentle, pleading tone.

“Please stay here for a moment. I must go protect the Empress.”

Wrapping a thin cloak around Cyrone’s shoulders, Baiana hurried away. Cyrone, shivering from the chill of the forest, squeezed his eyes shut. If he counted carefully, his mother would come looking for him.

One, two, three… As the numbers slowly passed, a rustle of leaves sounded. Cyrone turned cautiously. The sound came closer, even though he’d hidden behind a larger tree.

Rustle, rustle. The noise grew clearer. Cyrone began to pull the thin cloak from his shoulders over his head.

“Here…”

A shadow stretched long. The first thing Cyrone saw was a pair of round, pale green eyes. And then two neat braids of bright red hair. A strange unease settled over him as he quietly stared at the child.

“What are you doing here?”

The girl squatting on the dirt floor, seemingly unaware her dress was getting dirty, tilted her head, puzzled by Cyrone’s presence.

“The sun will set soon. It’s cold.”

The child murmured with a look of pity, her small lips barely moving. Though Cyrone had yet to appear in society, everyone had already heard whispers of his existence.

But this child seemed completely unaware that the person before her was the rumored Second Prince.

“Don’t bother me and go away.”

Cyrone replied sharply, sounding annoyed. Startled by the harsh tone, the child turned away briefly.

But after only a few steps, she turned back and approached him again.

Cyrone glared coldly at the child, who was about his age.

“Wait a moment. I won’t trouble you.”

Suddenly, warmth spread through Cyrone’s body. The child swiftly draped a fur scarf, woven from sable pelts, around his neck, then quickly stepped back.

“Wear this. Your lips are blue.”

Frightened by Cyrone’s fierce gaze, the child took several steps back, pointing to her own lips. Then, as if promising not to cause more trouble, she raised her hands slightly.

Cyrone narrowed his eyes and quietly observed her.

“Miss! Miss Elia Reiffers! Where on earth have you gone?”

Someone else shouted from deeper in the forest path. Startled, the child’s eyes widened, and she prepared to run. But then she turned back to look at Cyrone.

“Don’t stay there too long.”

Grasping the hem of her skirt tightly with small hands, the child ran off. Cyrone quietly followed her retreating figure with his eyes. Only then did he irritably tear off the scarf warming his neck. The soft, cozy scent teasing his nose was quite bothersome.

“Elia Reiffers…”

Cyrone murmured, slightly frowning at the pretty eyes he remembered.

* * *

“Ugh…”

Cyrone let out a short groan and suddenly opened his eyes. Seeing the familiar ceiling, he finally exhaled. His whole body was soaked in cold sweat and in disarray.

“Hah.”

He sat up in bed. Dawn was just breaking. Cyrone furrowed his brow feeling his head aching. Every time after seeing Loran, he had the same dream. Years had passed, yet that day remained vivid.

Just as he shook off the lingering images, a soft knock came at the door. Seeing Cyrone awake, Nielsen finally bowed his head.

“Your Highness, Duke Reiffers has returned to the capital.”

Cyrone’s eyes briefly turned icy in the cold dawn air.